"Auto" Headlights feature

On 2021 and probably even earlier, Toyota decided to implement an "Auto" headlight feature and completely remove "0" position on the left stalk. Why did the do it?
Now I can't have manually turn the lights off and turn them ON when they are really needed, as they tend to turn on every time I pass the bridge or turns ON 1.5 hr before it becoming slightly dark outside.
Another disadvantage of this feature as when you come to someone home to pick someone up and shut down the engine, the lights are staying on till you open the door. Just today I was picking up a person and decided not to open the door and see when the shuts down. I came 20 min earlier and course was running late and person walked out 40 minutes after I arrived. Guess what, my headlights were still ON for those 40 min. This is a flaw in the system...
Does anyone know how to disable this "Auto" feature and have it normal way On/Off?

 

I think the lights stayed on cuz you never tripped the timer by opening the door. That said watch this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q38ADKA6gps

 

Depress the below button to disable the auto headlights

 

In the location circled, there a Rear Window down switch.
"AUTO LIGHTS" just beside it is for Auto High Beam

 

My bad thought you were talking about the auto dim feature

 

The stalk on 2021 has only 3 positions:
Auto - Parking Light - Low Beam
There is no DRL Off
I was referring to turn the engine Off, but not opening the door. Here is the situation when the headlights will stay On for as long as battery would not discharge... I can't imagine someone arrive somewhere and sit in the car for a day, but technically speaking it possible.
On my 4Runner as soon as the engine is Off, the headlights goes Off as well.
I turn the Light delay Off on the head unit, so they never On when I lock the car.

 

Mine is the same. I think it's a Canadian thing. When I shut my truck off, if it's dark and my lights stay on, I can just rotate the selector to park lights then back to auto and they'll switch off. (Sometimes have to do it twice if I do it too quickly or if I don't wait long enough after turning off the truck to do it.)

 

Mine 21 has got DRL off...

 

I'm gonna have to look to be sure but I thought mine does too

 

People are too stupid to remember when to manually turn them on and off, so they make them idiot proof.

It is to stop dummies from driving at 4am or 11pm with no lights on.

 

Now if only every other manufacturer also did this. Though 2nd gen Tundras are notorious for driving around here at night with just their park lights on.

 

Mine does too

 

Staggering that as a people we have "advanced" to where we can't have a simple on/off for the headlights. Goodness.

 

My biggest pet peev is OEM's that allow DRL to provide enough light that people are capable of using to drive at night and them not realizing they can't bee seen by others.
Most drivers have no idea they forgot and think you are flashing your lights just to be a prick.
If your gauge cluster is lit and DRL/fogs are on then the rear lights should be on as well. I get people what the ability to turn off all lighting manually,

OP, I would be curious if you can replace your combi meter stalk with one that has the feature. I would be surprised if they modified the harness.
The only downside is you will have to pull your steering wheel to swap out.
I looked at adding the Auto feature to my dads 2016, since all he needed was the sensor and stalk.

 

I see that every night.Endless morons driving these days. Totally clueless behind the wheel

 

From a safety standpoint, i think the OEM should be held accountable for creating a scenario or allowing a combination of settings that allows the vehicle to become a hazard to occupants and surrounding motorists.
Toyota locks out GPS map searches while driving. Honda does too, this is no different.

 

My 2016 4Runner had this and I loved it. People on that forum would complain about it. No one ever seems to be happy anymore. First world problems suck!

 

Right! Cuz being responsible and/or personally accountable while you are behind the wheel of an automobile is just ridiculous!

 

That happened to me once. I was shocked that my lights we're not on, now I just leave the lights on all the time.

 

Come on now, driving is a hazard on its own.

What happen to personal responsibility and thinking

 

It's because you guys only get like 3 minutes of daylight a week up there - Toyota loves it's Canadian owners.

 

Is there any way to run the fog lights without the head lights on? Just like the Tacoma

 

On my 2021 TRD Sport, the AUTO on the second row is to enable/disable Auto High-Beams when the head light stalk is pushed forward to enable high beams.




Then here DRL OFF turns off all forward lighting.

 

Why would you want to? If it's foggy, I'd definitely want the back of my truck lit.

 

This may be mandatory Canadian feature. But, in the center display vehicle settings, you can adjust the duration the headlights remaining on after turning off the car. As well as change the sensitivity of when the headlights turn on when dark and also turn off the DRLs.

 

I dont care about the back of the truck. I am talking about being able to have just the fog lights on without the front headlights. I was able to do that on my Tacoma, sometimes all you need are the fog lights before it gets dark.

 

Wouldn't DRLs or park lights serve the same purpose?